The Catholic Democrats of Nebraska support equal access and opportunity for all people. We believe that affirmative action policies should shift from specific group preferences to economic empowerment of all disadvantaged citizens. We also support efforts to overcome barriers to equal pay and employment for those facing unjust discrimination. Those in government must be wary of the desire to divide public resources in proportion to ethnic or minority popultaion statistics because such schemes can, over time, devalue an individual's needs and personal merit.